Earlier this week IBM released a report titled “Attaining sustainable growth through corporate social responsibility”. The report, based on a survey of 250 business leaders worldwide, reveals that a majority of companies understand the financial value of CSR. 68% of those surveyed utilize CSR as an opportunity and a platform for growth. While most of us in the CSR/social entrepreneurship space have known the financial value of social strategies for some time, this survey is evidence that the market has finally caught up. IBM’s investment in this research and in their newly established CSR consulting practice is further evidence of how companies have seen the “green light” of CSR. It will be interesting to see how CSR evolves as it becomes a mainstream business strategy- hopefully the positive momentum towards creating both social and business value will persist during our current economic downturn.
-Aneesa Arshad
